Nick Diaz vs. Anderson Silva: Why Diaz vs. Silva Would Be a Disaster

Carlos Condit—a great fighter but nowhere near the Neo-level striker that Silva is—decisively outstruck Nick Diaz, landing 151 strikes to Diaz's 105. Furthermore, Condit vs. Diaz proved that Diaz's boxing-centric style of striking isn't well adapted to strikers like Condit, who employ a full range of strikes ranging from kicks, to knees, to elbows!

Unfortunately for Diaz, there is not a more diverse striker in the UFC than Anderson Silva.

Diaz's patented "Stockton Slap" is no doubt an effective style, but it's not one that will do well against Silva. Diaz will move forward and attempt to brawl with Silva, but will be countered mercilessly by the bigger, rangier Silva.

Just re-watch Condit vs. Diaz. If Condit was able to land so many strikes, what will a far greater striker with more power and reach be able to do?

Challenging Silva might make sense from a financial and PR perspective—this would be a high-profile fight, especially since the UFC hype machine would likely be in full gear for it, and also, it would get Diaz's name into the fold again—but in the long-term, it's a questionable move.

The fight won't be pretty for Diaz. His bravery is commendable, but fighting Silva will ultimately amount to nothing but another "L" on his record and possibly another "retirement" from MMA.

The whole ordeal won't just be a disaster for Nick Diaz, the whole MMA community might also be torn asunder after a Silva-Diaz fight.

If you think Diaz fans cried foul after Carlos Condit beat him fair and square, just imagine the absurd theories and Internet chicanery that will follow if Diaz loses to Silva.

After all, there was tremendous buzz on the Internet about Silva's most recent fight—a win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 148—with accusations of greasing (Silva rubbed the Vaseline from his face onto his body), short grabbing and using an illegal knee!

Even when Nick Diaz didn't attend a grappling match against Braulio Estima, Estima's name managed to be slighted despite being innocent of any wrongdoing.

Diaz vs. Silva will be a nightmare. It'll be a hyped up fight that won't deliver due to it being one-sided, and then the MMA community will become toxic for weeks after the fight.

Nick Diaz returning to MMA is a wonderful announcement, but him wanting to return against Anderson Silva is absurd. This fight should only happen if Diaz beats some contenders at 185 first.